2026 Best Astronomy And Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Astronomy And Astrophysics master’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 163 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Astronomy And Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Our analysis found Northwestern University to be the best Astronomy And Astrophysics school in the United States. Based in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Read more about Northwestern University
Out of the 163 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #2 spot. The University Of Texas At Austin is a public school based in Austin, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. More on The University Of Texas At Austin
A rank of #3 makes Rochester Institute Of Technology one of the top choices in the United States. Set in Rochester, NY, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Students from in state pay about $59,210 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,491 to complete their Astronomy And Astrophysics program here. Read more about Rochester Institute Of Technology
University Of Chicago came in at #4 on this year's Astronomy And Astrophysics ranking in the United States. Based in Chicago, IL, University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Chicago posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. In-state tuition and fees run about $69,324. Typical Astronomy And Astrophysics student debt is $15,854. More on University Of Chicago
The strong Astronomy And Astrophysics programs at University Of Arizona earned it the #5 place in the United States. Located in Tucson, AZ, University Of Arizona is a public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $25,406 in student loans. Get the full University Of Arizona report
University Of California Berkeley ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. University Of California Berkeley is a public school based in Berkeley, CA. University Of California Berkeley posts a six-year graduation rate of 93%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Read more about University Of California Berkeley
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in College Park, MD. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. Typical Astronomy And Astrophysics student debt is $20,836. Read the full report on University Of Maryland College Park
Cornell University landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Cornell University Astronomy And Astrophysics students take on a median of $15,005 in debt. Read more about Cornell University
Iowa State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. Located in Ames, IA, Iowa State University is a public institution. Iowa State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,495 in student loans. Get the full Iowa State University report
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. Based in Minneapolis, MN, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans. Read more about University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Champaign, IL. About 85% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign Astronomy And Astrophysics students take on a median of $20,778 in debt. More on University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in College Station, TX, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Texas A And M University College Station Astronomy And Astrophysics students take on a median of $20,031 in debt. Read more about Texas A And M University College Station
University Of Colorado Boulder ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. Based in Boulder, CO, University Of Colorado Boulder is a public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $22,324 in student loans. Get the full University Of Colorado Boulder report
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public school based in Columbus, OH. About 88% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. More on Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Virginia Main Campus did well this year, earning the #15 position. Located in Charlottesville, VA, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. University Of Virginia Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. University Of Virginia Main Campus Astronomy And Astrophysics students take on a median of $18,627 in debt. Get the full University Of Virginia Main Campus report
Michigan State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. This public school is set in East Lansing, MI. About 81% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. The median Astronomy And Astrophysics program debt is $25,213. Read more about Michigan State University
San Diego State University placed #17 among Astronomy And Astrophysics schools in the United States. San Diego State University is a public school based in San Diego, CA. San Diego State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 76%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,728, while out-of-state students pay about $21,328. The median Astronomy And Astrophysics program debt is $16,417. Read the full report on San Diego State University
University Of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. Set in Amherst, MA, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete their Astronomy And Astrophysics program here. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a public school based in Bloomington, IN. About 80% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. The median Astronomy And Astrophysics program debt is $20,542. Read more about Indiana University Bloomington
Boston University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. Boston University is a private not-for-profit school based in Boston, MA. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans. Get the full Boston University report
University Of Washington Seattle Campus did well this year, earning the #21 position. Set in Seattle, WA, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete their Astronomy And Astrophysics program here. Get the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus report
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. Set in Troy, NY, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. In-state tuition and fees run about $64,078. Graduates carry a median of $24,975 in student loans. More on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
University Of Nevada Las Vegas landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a public school based in Las Vegas, NV. University Of Nevada Las Vegas posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, compared with $27,411 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $21,181 in student loans. Read more about University Of Nevada Las Vegas
University Of California Los Angeles placed #24 among Astronomy And Astrophysics schools in the United States. Located in Los Angeles, CA, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete their Astronomy And Astrophysics program here. Read the full report on University Of California Los Angeles
University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Based in Santa Cruz, CA, University Of California Santa Cruz is a public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,035, with out-of-state students paying around $46,923. Graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. See the full University Of California Santa Cruz profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Astronomy And Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
California Institute Of Technology came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Located in Pasadena, CA, California Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. California Institute Of Technology graduates 94% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,898. Read the full report on California Institute Of Technology
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. This public school is set in Ann Arbor, MI. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor posts a six-year graduation rate of 93%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Typical Astronomy And Astrophysics student debt is $19,137. Read the full report on University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Arizona State University landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Based in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Arizona State University Astronomy And Astrophysics students take on a median of $21,842 in debt. More on Arizona State University
Bryn Mawr College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. Read the full report on Bryn Mawr College
Case Western Reserve University landed the #30 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Case Western Reserve University
University Of Wisconsin Madison did well this year, earning the #31 position. Get the full University Of Wisconsin Madison report
Williams College
Williams College landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Williams College report
Lycoming College
Lycoming College ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. Get the full Lycoming College report
Marietta College
Marietta College landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Marietta College
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. More on Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
University Of Southern California ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. See the full University Of Southern California profile
Fullerton College landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Fullerton College report
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. More on Columbia University In The City Of New York
Illinois Institute Of Technology landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Illinois Institute Of Technology report
Vanderbilt University came in at #40 in this year's ranking. More on Vanderbilt University
University Of Arkansas came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of Arkansas
Rice University
Rice University landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Rice University report
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus did well this year, earning the #43 position. More on University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Haverford College did well this year, earning the #44 position. See the full Haverford College profile
Ohio University Chillicothe Campus did well this year, earning the #45 position. Read the full report on Ohio University Chillicothe Campus
Irvine Valley College placed #46 among Astronomy And Astrophysics schools in the United States. Get the full Irvine Valley College report
Lehigh University ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. Read more about Lehigh University
Valparaiso University came in at #48 in this year's ranking. See the full Valparaiso University profile
Villanova University did well this year, earning the #49 position. See the full Villanova University profile
Swarthmore College came in at #50 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Swarthmore College
Related Astronomy And Astrophysics Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Astronomy And Astrophysics Schools (All Levels)
- Best Astronomy And Astrophysics Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Astronomy And Astrophysics Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Astronomy And Astrophysics Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Astronomy And Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Astronomy And Astrophysics Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Astronomy And Astrophysics Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 163 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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